More Drams, Less Drama

Normandin Mercier XO Grande Champagne Cognac

18th December 202420th December 2024Coldorak

The 17th cognac in our Cognac-Expert Advent Calendar is a 30-year-old Normandin Mercier XO Grande Champagne Cognac. In the village of Dompierre-sur-Mer, near La Rochelle, lies the Normandin-Mercier estate, a family-run Cognac house founded in 1872 by Jules Normandin. Now led by his great-great-grandson, Edouard Normandin, the estate has remained in the family for five generations. The property itself is steeped in history, with the 17th-century Château La Péraudière originally serving as one of François I^st’s hunting lodges. The cellars, added later, became central to the Cognac house’s operations, where eaux-de-vie are still aged and blended today. Distillation was carried out on-site until the interwar period, and the cellars continue to hold the family’s centuries-old expertise.

The Normandin-Mercier name reflects the partnership of Jules Normandin and his wife, Justine Mercier, whose family name was added to the brand, as it was created with its financial help. The house focuses on ageing carefully selected eaux-de-vie from Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, with every stage of production taking place on the estate. The location, in the Bois Ordinaire region near the Atlantic coast, lends a unique character to their cognacs, influenced by the mild coastal climate.

Normandin-Mercier maintains a commitment to simplicity and authenticity, reflected in their elegant, understated bottles and decanters that highlight the spirit within. The Château’s grounds are home to ancient oak forests, and casks made from this wood are used to age their signature Cognac, La Péraudière. The estate welcomes visitors to experience its history, explore the cellars, and discover the sensory richness of a Cognac house that has preserved tradition for over 150 years.

Richard Delisle Lot 53 Cognac

17th December 202420th December 2024Coldorak

With two thirds of our Cognac-Expert Advent Calendar complete (including this one), today’s pick feels like it could easily have been reserved for the grand finale: the Richard Delisle Lot 53 Grande Champagne Cognac.

The story of the Cabanne family dates back to 1810 when François Cabanne moved from La Vienne to Charente with his wife and two children. In 1839, his eldest son, also named François, married a woman from Bourg-Charente and settled in Chez Genin. Their family home became the heart of their legacy, passed down through generations and eventually serving as the company headquarters.

Upon arriving in Charente, the Cabannes began cultivating the land. By 1844, Jean-Célestin had started a wine business, which his son Philémon expanded into distillation. The distillery began with three copper alembics—a significant operation at the time—and over five generations, it has grown into one of the region’s largest, now boasting 15 copper alembics. Each generation has left its mark, contributing to the expansion of both the vineyard and the distillery.

The Richard Delisle brand itself, founded in 1834 and originally tied to the Mitterrand family, was acquired by the Cabannes after World War II. The family adopted the name for their Cognacs, further cementing their reputation. Today, Alexis Cabanne, the fourth-generation owner and cellar master, continues the family’s legacy. He has expanded into spirit trading on traditional markets and launched Hawkins Distribution in 1999 to export their Cognacs worldwide.

Vallein Tercinier Liaison Intime Cognac

16th December 202415th December 2024Coldorak

We’ve reached the fifteenth pouch in the Cognac-Expert Advent Calendar, and today it’s the Vallein Tercinier Liaison Intime. I’ve been especially excited for this one, and for a rather whisky-related reason. A few years ago, whilst working with Dingle Distillery and assisting Graham and Fay Coull at Whisky Live Paris, I had the chance to introduce Graham to some cognacs during a break. Naturally, I brought him to the Vallein Tercinier booth.

We tasted their full lineup, and Graham was so impressed that I introduced him to the Vallein Tercinier family. This led to the acquisition of several cognac casks to mature or finish some Dingle whiskey. Over the next two editions of Whisky Live Paris, the Vallein Tercinier team stopped by to sample the Dingle whiskey finished in their casks – and they loved it! But enough about my story – let’s dive into Vallein Tercinier and take a closer look at their Liaison Intime Cognac.

Guillon Painturaud Renaissance Cognac

15th December 202420th December 2024Coldorak

The fourteenth dram in our Cognac-Expert Advent Calendar is a Guilloin Painturaud Renaissance Cognac. The Guillon-Painturaud family has lived on their estate since the early 17th century, originally working as weavers before gradually developing their vineyard. The phylloxera crisis devastated their vines in the late 19th century, and replanting was slow. Even amidst the challenges of two world wars, production carried on, thanks to the dedication of women and elderly members. The family’s Charentais alembic, built in 1914, remains a unique tool for crafting refined and aromatic cognacs.

In 1964, Jean-Pierre breathed new life into the familial enterprise, and by the 1970s, their vineyard was yielding remarkable cognac spirits. In 1975, they introduced Pineau des Charentes, sparking a passion for this speciality. Direct sales began in 1978, and by 1994, Jean-Pierre’s daughter, Line, entered the scene, eventually handing the reins to her and her spouse, Olivier, in 2014.

In 2021, sisters Elise and Mathilde Thorin (daughters of Claude Thorin and active in the family business) embarked on a new chapter with the goal of upholding the family’s values and craftsmanship while continuing to create exceptional Cognacs and Pineaux des Charentes. Under the name ‘Two Sisters Distillers’, they aim to carry the legacy forward.

Mauxion Borderies Lot 45 Cognac

14th December 202420th December 2024Coldorak

We begin the second half of our Cognac-Expert Advent Calendar with a Mauxion Borderies Lot 45 Cognac. The Mauxion family traces its origins back to 1575, when Pierre Mauxion was born in the village of Houlette. Over thirteen generations, the family has remained rooted in the same estate. In 1743, Antoine Mauxion became the first family member to produce eaux-de-vie, beginning a tradition that has been carried forward by ten successive generations. Today, Mauxion Selection continues this legacy, maintaining traditional methods in vineyard care and the crafting of high-quality eaux-de-vie.

Mauxion Selection stands out by offering a range of single-cru expressions in various sizes. All their cognacs are sourced exclusively from the renowned terroirs of Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, and Fins Bois. To preserve the integrity and character of their eaux-de-vie, Mauxion Selection bottles its cognacs at cask strength, without blending or reduction. This approach allows the spirits to retain their natural complexity and depth, showcasing the unique qualities of each vintage and terroir.

Maxime Trijol Réserve Grande Champagne Cognac

13th December 202420th December 2024Coldorak

We are already at the halfway point of our Cognac Expert Advent calendar. As we open the 12th door, we find a Maxime Trijol Réserve Grande Champagne Cognac. The Trijol family’s estate traces its roots to the mid-1800s in Saint-Martial-sur-Né, where they built their first distillery in 1859. For over 150 years, the Maxime Trijol brand has operated as a family-run business, preserving knowledge and heritage across five generations. In 1962, the house became a professional distiller. It then started growing its own vineyards for the production of Cognac. Today, with 22 25-hectolitre stills, it produces and distributes Cognac on a much larger scale.

Under the leadership of Jean-Jacques Trijol, this estate has grown into one of the largest cognac distilleries. As master distiller, Jean-Jacques supervises every stage of production. He or one of the skilled cellar masters crafts each bottle, and it undergoes strict quality control, marked with batch numbers for full traceability.

Raymond Bossis XO Limited Edition N°1 Cognac

12th December 202420th December 2024Coldorak

Behind ‘door #11’ of our Cognac-Expert Advent Calendar (in fact, it‘’’s not doors but pouches), we found a Raymond Bossis XO Limited Edition N°1 Cognac. The Domaine des Groies, established in 1919 with its purchase by Philippe Bétard, has been managed by successive generations of the Bossis family. Auguste Bossis planted the first vines in 1924, assisted by his wife Marie, but it wasn’t until 1957, under the leadership of their son Raymond, that the vineyard began to grow. In 1960, the estate distilled its first Cognac, with the last bottles from that initial production sold nearly 50 years later, in 2008. Over the years, Raymond and his wife Michelle expanded the estate, focusing on direct sales and introducing Pineau des Charentes in the 1970s.

In 1993, Raymond’s son Jean-Luc took over, diversifying the estate’s offerings to include Cognac, Pineau des Charentes, traditional-method sparkling wines, and natural grape juice. His brother Jean-Marie joined in 2009, managing bottling and sales for domestic and international markets. Despite his advanced age, Raymond continues to play an active role, celebrating the estate‘’’s centenary in 2019 surrounded by family and friends.

Committed to sustainability, the Domaine des Groies practices integrated farming under the Optimus protocol and is working toward High Environmental Value (HVE) certification. As members of the Federation of Independent Winegrowers, they ensure direct involvement in all aspects of production, reflecting the family’s dedication to quality and tradition. Let’s shortly explain what the Optimus Protocol is below, then we’ll try this Raymond Bossis XO Limited Edition N°1 Cognac.

Monnet XXO Cognac

11th December 202420th December 2024Coldorak

We continue our cognac journey with the tenth dram from our Cognac-Expert Advent Calendar: a Monnet XXO Cognac. Monnet Cognac was founded in 1838 by Jean-Gabriel Monnet. The company operates from facilities in Cognac, where it was among the first to centralise the entire production process. Its bottles feature a salamander emblem, originally associated with King Francis I. The Monnet Estate covers 23 hectares of clay-limestone soil (groies) in the Fins Bois region. But let’s crack on to the tasting, shall we?

Prunier Horizon Fine Champagne Cognac

10th December 20249th December 2024Coldorak

We continue to explore cognacs as we open a Prunier Horizon Cognac, the ninth sample from our Cognac-Expert Advent Calendar. Even though Maison Prunier was founded in 1769, you can trace its origins to 1665, when Jean Prunier, a renowned Cognac expert from La Rochelle, began producing wine and eaux-de-vie. By the early 1700s, he was exporting his products globally, establishing Cognac Prunier. His son, Gabriel, and later his grandson, also named Jean, carried on the family’s legacy. François Prunier expanded the business by acquiring vineyards near St-Jean-d’Angély and settling the operation in Cognac in the early 1800s.

The third Jean Prunier’s three sons – Alphonse, Marcel, and Gaston – continued the tradition. Alphonse led the company, Marcel managed European representation, and Gaston founded a branch in Melbourne, Australia. After Alphonse’s death in 1918, his widow enlisted her nephew, Jean Burnez, to lead the business. Jean’s son, Claude Burnez (1927–2011), later succeeded him, passing leadership to his wife, Susan, in 1987. In 2009, their son Stéphane Burnez took over, joined by his daughter Alice in 2016.

Now in its sixth generation, Cognac Prunier remains family-run and based in the same medieval building in Cognac for over two centuries. The company produces a wide range of Cognacs and eaux-de-vie, honouring long-standing traditions. Their offerings span from 2-year-old Cognacs to XO blends, reflecting their commitment to quality and heritage. Let’s review this Prunier Horizon Fine Champagne Cognac now, shall we?

Tesseron Extra Légende Cognac

9th December 20249th December 2024Coldorak

As we start the second week of our Cognac-Expert Advent Calendar, the eighth dram is a Tesseron Extra Légende Cognac. Maison Abel Tesseron, founded in 1905, has a rich history of crafting exceptional cognacs. Abel Tesseron established the house with the vision of preserving eaux-de-vie in a 12th-century crypt, leveraging estates in Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne. Joined by his son Guy in 1940, the family earned renown for their expertise in ageing cognacs, further solidified by Guy’s acquisition of Château Pontet-Canet in 1975. For nearly a century, Tesseron Cognac remained a hidden gem until Alfred and Gérard Tesseron, the third generation, launched the brand’s first XO cognacs in 2000. Today Noé Tesseron, representing the fourth generation, brings a modern perspective to the family’s legacy. The Tesseron cellars, originally part of a 12th-century church crypt, house inside what’s called ‘The Paradis’ (Heaven) the oldest and most treasured eaux-de-vie of the maison, some dating back to Abel Tesseron’s private collection. This invaluable collection, among the largest of aged cognacs, is stored in glass demijohns under ideal conditions to perfect their ageing. Beyond its historical significance, this exceptional reserve serves as a vital resource for creating Tesseron’s most prestigious cognacs. Nowadays, the Maison Terreron exploits about 25 ha of vines in Grande Champagne, and 15 ha in Petite Champagne.